In this report, some summaries of Referral to Treatment Time (RTT) are presented. The summaries are based on the Referral to Treatment Time Index (RTTI).
Please, refer to the documentation of RTTI for definitions, examples and other details.
This report is based on RTT data from the NHS website, which includes data up to May, 2025.
Acronyms used:
This section presents summaries of waiting times on May, 2025.
The boxplots show RTTI for each medical specialties (or treatment functions) in May, 2025 and each pathway.
Subsections for each pathway are presented as tabs below.
Figure 2.1: Boxplots of RTTI by medical specialty for Incomplete pathways with DTA in May, 2025. Each point represents a provider in the NHS.
Providers with RTTI larger than \(Q_3 + 1.5 IR\), where \(Q_3\) is the 3rd quartile and \(IR\) is the interquartile range of RTTI, are considered as “outliers”, i.e. they are providers with a very large RTTI, compared to the RTTI of the other providers, within the treatment function.
In the following table, the “outlying” providers are identified using the rule above. The table can be filtered by Provider and Treatment Function.
Figure 2.2: Boxplots of RTTI by medical specialty for Incomplete pathways in May, 2025. Each point represents a provider in the NHS.
Providers with RTTI larger than \(Q_3 + 1.5 IR\), where \(Q_3\) is the 3rd quartile and \(IR\) is the interquartile range of RTTI, are considered as “outliers”, i.e. they are providers with a very large RTTI, compared to the RTTI of the other providers, within the treatment function.
In the following table, the “outlying” providers are identified using the rule above. The table can be filtered by Provider and Treatment Function.
Figure 2.3: Boxplots of RTTI by medical specialty for Completed pathways with DTA in May, 2025. Each point represents a provider in the NHS.
Providers with RTTI larger than \(Q_3 + 1.5 IR\), where \(Q_3\) is the 3rd quartile and \(IR\) is the interquartile range of RTTI, are considered as “outliers”, i.e. they are providers with a very large RTTI, compared to the RTTI of the other providers, within the treatment function.
In the following table, the “outlying” providers are identified using the rule above. The table can be filtered by Provider and Treatment Function.
Figure 2.4: Boxplots of RTTI by medical specialty for Complete pathways with no DTA in May, 2025. Each point represents a provider in the NHS.
Providers with RTTI larger than \(Q_3 + 1.5 IR\), where \(Q_3\) is the 3rd quartile and \(IR\) is the interquartile range of RTTI, are considered as “outliers”, i.e. they are providers with a very large RTTI, compared to the RTTI of the other providers, within the treatment function.
In the following table, the “outlying” providers are identified using the rule above. The table can be filtered by Provider and Treatment Function.
The boxplots show RTTI for each medical specialties (or treatment functions) in May, 2025 and each pathway.
Subsections for each pathway are presented as tabs below.
Figure 2.5: Boxplots of RTTI by medical specialty for Incomplete pathways with DTA in May, 2025. Each point represents a IH provider.
Providers with RTTI larger than \(Q_3 + 1.5 IR\), where \(Q_3\) is the 3rd quartile and \(IR\) is the interquartile range of RTTI, are considered as “outliers”, i.e. they are providers with a very large RTTI, compared to the RTTI of the other providers, within the treatment function.
In the following table, the “outlying” providers are identified using the rule above. The table can be filtered by Provider and Treatment Function.
Figure 2.6: Boxplots of RTTI by medical specialty for Incomplete pathways in May, 2025. Each point represents a provider in the NHS.
Providers with RTTI larger than \(Q_3 + 1.5 IR\), where \(Q_3\) is the 3rd quartile and \(IR\) is the interquartile range of RTTI, are considered as “outliers”, i.e. they are providers with a very large RTTI, compared to the RTTI of the other providers, within the treatment function.
In the following table, the “outlying” providers are identified using the rule above. The table can be filtered by Provider and Treatment Function.
Figure 2.7: Boxplots of RTTI by medical specialty for Completed pathways with DTA in May, 2025. Each point represents a IH provider.
Providers with RTTI larger than \(Q_3 + 1.5 IR\), where \(Q_3\) is the 3rd quartile and \(IR\) is the interquartile range of RTTI, are considered as “outliers”, i.e. they are providers with a very large RTTI, compared to the RTTI of the other providers, within the treatment function.
In the following table, the “outlying” providers are identified using the rule above. The table can be filtered by Provider and Treatment Function.
Figure 2.8: Boxplots of RTTI by medical specialty for Complete pathways with no DTA in May, 2025. Each point represents a IH provider.
Providers with RTTI larger than \(Q_3 + 1.5 IR\), where \(Q_3\) is the 3rd quartile and \(IR\) is the interquartile range of RTTI, are considered as “outliers”, i.e. they are providers with a very large RTTI, compared to the RTTI of the other providers, within the treatment function.
In the following table, the “outlying” providers are identified using the rule above. The table can be filtered by Provider and Treatment Function.
The following table contains medical specialties ranked by the national level RTTI on May, 2025. This is for NHS providers. The higher the rank the higher the RTTI. The number in brackets is the RTTI.
As can be seen RTTI where there is a DTA is higher. Also, Elderly Medicine, Rheumatology and Mental Health have the lowest waiting times (RTTI <1), at least in May, 2025.
On the other hand, Gynaecology, Trauma & Orthopaedics, Oral Surgery and Ear Nose and Throat are among the medical specialties where waiting times are the longest.
Alternatively, the information in the table can be displayed as follows. Hover with the mouse over an individual bar to highlight the medical specialty in each of the four pathways.
Figure 2.9: Ranking of medical specialties May, 2025
And for comparison with IH. IH in pink, NHS in dark magenta.
Generally, the RTTI is lower for IH providers. An exception is patients on the waiting list for an IH provider, with a DTA, (IH, Incomplete DTA) in the specialties Cardiology and Rheumatology, where waiting times are much longer than at NHS providers. For the specialties of General Internal medicine and Neurology, waiting times (IH, Incomplete DTA) are also larger than at NHS providers.
Figure 2.10: Ranking of medical specialties, by pathway, NHS and IH, May, 2025
Click on the white filter boxes, below the column names, to choose a region, provider or medical specialty.
Empty cells represent a missing value (no information about the provider for the medical specialty).
Low rank corresponds to low RTTI.
The table can be filtered. Click on the white boxes below the column names.
The lowest value that RTTI can achieve is 0, which is achieved when no patients are waiting more than 20 weeks from referral to the start of their treatment. In this sense, 0 is the “target” value of RTTI. Observed values of RTTI are mostly positive and, when observed through time, it is desirable that the trend is decreasing towards zero.
In the following, time plots of RTTI, at national level, for all treatment functions (medical specialties) are shown. Given that there are 23 medical specialties, and it is important to display the time plots in one graph, for comparison, they have been grouped into 3 subgroups, according to their RTTI value in January 2023 (NHS providers for Incomplete DTA pathway).
RTTI time trends are also considered for IH providers, using the same treatment function grouping as for NHS providers.
As can be seen, RTTI for these treatment functions, using NHS providers only, has been decreasing since January 2024.
There is a grey vertical line marking the change in government after the July 2024 elections.
All these treatment functions had RTTI larger than 3 in January 2023. In March 2025, all the treatment functions have RTTI between 2 and 3, except for Oral Surgery and Ear, Nose and Throat.
This is very positive and should be sustained through time.
For IH providers, it is also possible to observe a reduction in RTTI though time for most treatment functions, although the effect is less pronounced because the initial RTTI, in January 2023, was lower than 3, except for Ear, Nose and Throat.
For IH providers, it is also possible to observe a reduction in RTTI though time for most treatment functions, although the effect is less pronounced because the initial RTTI, in January 2023, was lower than 3, except for Ear, Nose and Throat.
For IH providers, it is also possible to observe a reduction in RTTI though time for most treatment functions, although the effect is less pronounced because the initial RTTI, in January 2023, was lower than 3, except for Ear, Nose and Throat.
For IH providers, it is also possible to observe a reduction in RTTI though time for most treatment functions, although the effect is less pronounced because the initial RTTI, in January 2023, was lower than 3, except for Ear, Nose and Throat.
RTTI trend for these treatment functions is also decreasing, except for “Other - Medical”, “Cardiothoracic Surgery”, and “Cardiology”, although RTTI has not deteriorated since January 2023.
All these treatment functions has RTTI between 1.5 and 3 in January 2023. In March 2025, RTTI is below 2 for all treatment functions in this group, except for “Urology”. It must be mentioned that “Urology” had a steady and marked decrease in RTTI since January 2023.
For IH providers, it is also possible to observe a reduction in RTTI though time for most treatment functions, although the effect is less pronounced because the initial RTTI, in January 2023, was lower than 3, except for Ear, Nose and Throat.
For IH providers, it is also possible to observe a reduction in RTTI though time for most treatment functions, although the effect is less pronounced because the initial RTTI, in January 2023, was lower than 3, except for Ear, Nose and Throat.
For IH providers, it is also possible to observe a reduction in RTTI though time for most treatment functions, although the effect is less pronounced because the initial RTTI, in January 2023, was lower than 3, except for Ear, Nose and Throat.
For IH providers, it is also possible to observe a reduction in RTTI though time for most treatment functions, although the effect is less pronounced because the initial RTTI, in January 2023, was lower than 3, except for Ear, Nose and Throat.
For IH providers, it is also possible to observe a reduction in RTTI though time for most treatment functions, although the effect is less pronounced because the initial RTTI, in January 2023, was lower than 3, except for Ear, Nose and Throat.
For IH providers, it is also possible to observe a reduction in RTTI though time for most treatment functions, although the effect is less pronounced because the initial RTTI, in January 2023, was lower than 3, except for Ear, Nose and Throat.
For IH providers, it is also possible to observe a reduction in RTTI though time for most treatment functions, although the effect is less pronounced because the initial RTTI, in January 2023, was lower than 3, except for Ear, Nose and Throat.
For IH providers, it is also possible to observe a reduction in RTTI though time for most treatment functions, although the effect is less pronounced because the initial RTTI, in January 2023, was lower than 3, except for Ear, Nose and Throat.
RTTI for “Respiratory Medicine” has higher levels of RTTI in 2025 that in early 2023.
RTTI for “Mental Health” increased until April 2024 but has since shown lower levels.
“Elderly Medicine” has lower levels of RTTI since November 2024.
Subsections (one for each pathway) are presented as tabs.
To interact with the graphs, hover with mouse over lines for more information. Double click on a region in the legend to isolate. Single click to make the line disappear/appear.
Figure 4.1: Time plot of monthly Cardiology RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.2: Time plot of monthly Cardiothoracic Surgery RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.3: Time plot of monthly Dermatology RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.4: Time plot of monthly Ear Nose and Throat RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.5: Time plot of monthly Elderly Medicine RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.6: Time plot of monthly Gastroenterology RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.7: Time plot of monthly General Internal Medicine RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.8: Time plot of monthly General Surgery RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.9: Time plot of monthly Gynaecology RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.10: Time plot of monthly Neurology RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.11: Time plot of monthly Neurosurgical RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.12: Time plot of monthly Ophthalmology RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.13: Time plot of monthly Oral Surgery RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.14: Time plot of monthly Other - Medical RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.15: Time plot of monthly Other - Mental Health RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.16: Time plot of monthly Other - Other RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.17: Time plot of monthly Other - Paediatric RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.18: Time plot of monthly Other - Surgical RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.19: Time plot of monthly Plastic Surgery RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.20: Time plot of monthly Respiratory Medicine RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.21: Time plot of monthly Rheumatology RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.22: Time plot of monthly Trauma and Orthopaedic RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.23: Time plot of monthly Urology RTTI. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 4.24: Time plot of monthly Cardiology RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.25: Time plot of monthly Cardiothoracic Surgery RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.26: Time plot of monthly Dermatology RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.27: Time plot of monthly Ear Nose and Throat RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.28: Time plot of monthly Elderly Medicine RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.29: Time plot of monthly Gastroenterology RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.30: Time plot of monthly General Internal Medicine RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.31: Time plot of monthly General Surgery RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.32: Time plot of monthly Gynaecology RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.33: Time plot of monthly Neurology RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.34: Time plot of monthly Neurosurgical RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.35: Time plot of monthly Ophthalmology RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.36: Time plot of monthly Oral Surgery RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.37: Time plot of monthly Other - Medical RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.38: Time plot of monthly Other - Mental Health RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.39: Time plot of monthly Other - Other RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.40: Time plot of monthly Other - Paediatric RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.41: Time plot of monthly Other - Surgical RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.42: Time plot of monthly Plastic Surgery RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.43: Time plot of monthly Respiratory Medicine RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.44: Time plot of monthly Rheumatology RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.45: Time plot of monthly Trauma and Orthopaedic RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.46: Time plot of monthly Urology RTTI. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 4.47: Time plot of monthly Cardiology RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.48: Time plot of monthly Cardiothoracic Surgery RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.49: Time plot of monthly Dermatology RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.50: Time plot of monthly Ear Nose and Throat RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.51: Time plot of monthly Elderly Medicine RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.52: Time plot of monthly Gastroenterology RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.53: Time plot of monthly General Internal Medicine RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.54: Time plot of monthly General Surgery RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.55: Time plot of monthly Gynaecology RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.56: Time plot of monthly Neurology RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.57: Time plot of monthly Neurosurgical RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.58: Time plot of monthly Ophthalmology RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.59: Time plot of monthly Oral Surgery RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.60: Time plot of monthly Other - Medical RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.61: Time plot of monthly Other - Mental Health RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.62: Time plot of monthly Other - Other RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.63: Time plot of monthly Other - Paediatric RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.64: Time plot of monthly Other - Surgical RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.65: Time plot of monthly Plastic Surgery RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.66: Time plot of monthly Respiratory Medicine RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.67: Time plot of monthly Rheumatology RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.68: Time plot of monthly Trauma and Orthopaedic RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.69: Time plot of monthly Urology RTTI. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 4.70: Time plot of monthly Cardiology RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.71: Time plot of monthly Cardiothoracic Surgery RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.72: Time plot of monthly Dermatology RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.73: Time plot of monthly Ear Nose and Throat RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.74: Time plot of monthly Elderly Medicine RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.75: Time plot of monthly Gastroenterology RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.76: Time plot of monthly General Internal Medicine RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.77: Time plot of monthly General Surgery RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.78: Time plot of monthly Gynaecology RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.79: Time plot of monthly Neurology RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.80: Time plot of monthly Neurosurgical RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.81: Time plot of monthly Ophthalmology RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.82: Time plot of monthly Oral Surgery RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.83: Time plot of monthly Other - Medical RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.84: Time plot of monthly Other - Mental Health RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.85: Time plot of monthly Other - Other RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.86: Time plot of monthly Other - Paediatric RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.87: Time plot of monthly Other - Surgical RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.88: Time plot of monthly Plastic Surgery RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.89: Time plot of monthly Respiratory Medicine RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.90: Time plot of monthly Rheumatology RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.91: Time plot of monthly Trauma and Orthopaedic RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 4.92: Time plot of monthly Urology RTTI. Completed No DTA pathways.